The apartment was silent, dark, and empty. Those biker-people hadn't been invisible. No wonder he hadn't been able to detect their presence, because they hadn't been there at all. They had teleported in and now they'd teleported out, dragging him with them.

  It was a big place with a separate bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom with a tub, but it didn't look lived in. In leaving, he realized why it'd felt familiar. Two doors down was Dot's place. So, this was Luke's new apartment. Alan had basically sent him to his room.

  "Bastard," Luke cursed.

  Unsure what else to do, he checked his phone and returned to the apartment. For some reason, the fridge being stocked with food only pissed him off more.

  Luke: "What did you want to talk about?"

  Curtis: "I've found more of them."

  Luke: "More of who? The Intruders?"

  Curtis: "Yeah. I have a theory."

  Luke: "Let's hear it."

  Curtis: "I think they're from another system. Maybe more than one."

  Luke: "Doesn't sound too unbelievable. I mean, the name alone."

  Curtis: "They're infiltrating us, and for some reason, there are a lot of them in NY."

  Curtis: "They're planning something big. I was thinking maybe you and Hannah could come here and join me. I've gathered some others. Bring that other Lifeweaver chick, too, I guess, if she's not too scared."

  Luke: "You want me to come to New York? What are you saying we should do?"

  Curtis: "We need to stop them from whatever they're planning and teach them that Earth is off limits. What else?

  Luke: "Have you been in contact with anyone named Alan or Mr. Schmidt?"

  Curtis: "I don't know anyone by that name."

  Curtis: "We don't have much time."

  Luke: "How do you know?"

  Curtis: "I'm not sure how it works. It's the profession. Seeker."

  Curtis had become a friend, and he'd helped Luke out several times, so this was a no-brainer, sort of, but he still couldn't help but feel like he was being manipulated by Alan somehow.

  Luke: "Two weeks."

  Curtis: "That's a long time, but fair enough."

  Luke: "Could you look into Phoenix Phalanx in the meantime? They're this big guild."

  Curtis: "Shouldn't be too hard. I'm a member. Heard you joined ISG."

  Luke: "Yeah..."

  Curtis: "Listen, I have to go. Getting closer to an Intruder. I'll talk with Hannah."

  That was quite the revelation. Weird for Curtis to join a guild, but personal growth wasn't unheard of. Well, Luke had two weeks to get everything in order before leaving. The question was whether he'd go to New York alone or as a member of Integrated Solutions Group.

  Viola: "I have been informed of your current status. You're relieved of your duties until you leave. Sorry it ended like this."

  Luke: "Thanks, Viola."

  Nash: "What the hell happened, dude? Viola just showed up with some new guy and said he's taking your place? You've made Sam and Mas sad! One of them almost showed emotion on their face!"

  Luke: "They've banished me from Chicago for going into that dungeon. Leaving for NY in two weeks."

  Nash: "Shit, dude... That's strict. Can we come?"

  Luke: "You want to join me?"

  Nash: "Hell yeah! Can't go breaking up The Band!"

  Nash: "Hold on."

  Nash: "Viola is checking with her boss's boss or something."

  Nash: "Tom isn't coming, family and all, but the others want to go. Mas even said, and I quote: 'Yes'."

  Nash: "How about that, huh? I think that's the first word he's said since yesterday."

  Nash: "Viola said yes, dude! Just like that!"

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  Something stirred in Luke's chest at their readiness to just drop everything and come along. Emotion? No, it couldn't be. The allowances made for him on such short notice were blatant encouragement for Luke to stay with the guild and go along with Alan's plan, but in that moment, he didn't give a shit.

  Luke: "Yeah. Let's do it. We'll need to get your levels up, though."

  Nash: "Viola said she'll let us use The Gauntlet for some hardcore grinding!"

  Luke: "Huh?"

  Nash: "Didn't you hear? The guild chat is full of people talking about it. They've managed to get monsters to spawn down there!"

  That was... reckless. Damn reckless, but he couldn't help but add a point in favor of the guild. Having your own private place to spawn monsters was an incredible opportunity.

  Luke: "Are you guys in the building?"

  Nash: "Of course! We're in the conference room where we first met. Come join us."

  Luke: "There's something I have to do first. I'll meet you down there."

  Knocking on Dot's door, he got no reply.

  Luke: "Viola. Where's Dot?"

  Viola: "She's not part of my crew, but I can find out. Hold on."

  Waiting for Viola to get back to him was as good a time as any to continue checking out his new skills. Quite a few more options remained, and with eleven points still available, he felt a little like a kid in a candy store as he perused the list.

  Weaver's Whip [Active - Mana Cost: Low]: Turn a thread of mana into a weapon.

  Weaveguard [Toggleable - Mana Cost: Low]: Shield the core of your being from outside influence.

  Lifeweaver's Sacrifice [Toggleable - Mana Cost: Low]: Absorb damage for anyone touched by your threads.

  Manipulate Thread [Passive]: Reach out a trembling finger and touch the thread.

  Draft Insight [Passive]: Read the intent in the weaves of others.

  Destabilize Spellweave [Active - Mana Cost: Moderate]: Destroy spellweaves with Threads of Mana.

  Loom's Reminder [Active - Mana Cost: Moderate]: For a brief moment, each touch produces a thread.

  Cascading Threads [Active - Mana Cost: High]: The threads weave from one to another, and to another.

  Rank up skills available:

  The Healer's Staff [Active. Mana Cost: Low]: Turn your weapon indestructible for a brief moment.

  Weaver’s Rupture [Active - Mana Cost: Moderate]: Shatter a Thread of Mana into a pulse of force.

  Weaver’s Mercy [Active - Mana Cost: Moderate]: On the brink of death, lend the weave one final stitch.

  Weaver's Whip was perhaps worth considering, along with the other offensive options he'd been offered earlier. A lot of things, people, and monsters were stirring in this world and beyond. Already way past staying in a pure healer role, Luke felt like he'd do well to reexamine those skills as well. For now, though, he selected Lifeweaver's Sacrifice and confirmed the choice. Staying with the low-level party meant he'd need to carry them through some situations. Taking damage for them was just the thing for it.

  Next, he selected Cascading Threads. If he interpreted the description right, it was a way to reach out to many targets at the same time. Either as support or in an offensive role, he couldn't look past that one as a solid choice.

  Manipulate Thread was another one of those strange skills that didn't explain what it was for. Experience told him that it would be important going forward. While touching threads was most of what a Lifeweaver did, this was something beyond that. Something worthwhile, if his gut was to be trusted, which, of course, it was. Selecting it didn't make him feel any different, and then time was up.

  Viola: "You wouldn't believe how many people I had to talk to just to find your friend. Like pulling nails."

  Luke: "But you found her?"

  Viola: "Of course. She's on the second floor. Come down to the lobby and I'll show you."

  Luke: "Thank you."

  Viola: "Just remember me later when you're a sub-guildmaster in New York."

  Viola: "Despite not following a single rule."

  Luke: "I will never forget you!"

  A moment later, he'd gone down the elevator and then back up again with Viola in tow. She showed through a throng of people in business wear, both formal and casual, sitting around on long benches. Most of them were on their computers or talking on the phone, working while they waited.

  "Who are all these people?" he asked Viola.

  She shrugged. "No idea. Like I said, Dot is not one of mine." Viola nodded towards a room in the back. Two guards flanked the entrance, glaring at the people waiting their turn. "She should be in there."

  "Thank you," Luke said again, and made as if to head over there.

  "Hold on a moment."

  He stopped and turned.

  "Do you think... No, never mind."

  "What?" he asked.

  Viola glanced around and then leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Is there something bad going on here? The guild, I mean?"

  He gave her a long look before answering, unsure how to even formulate a reply. "I think so."

  She nodded and bit her lip, then gave a slight shake of her head. "Figures. I finally landed a good job. Of course, there's something wrong with it."

  "I'm not sure about anything here," Luke said. "It's just my gut feeling. In the end, I don't trust Alan."

  "Mr. Schmidt?" Viola asked.

  "Yeah."

  "He wouldn't do anything bad, would he?"

  Luke couldn't help but laugh. "Never trust a billionaire."

  "That's unfair."

  "Let's just say he isn't ethical, doesn't have scruples, will do whatever it takes, lacks empathy. You know, the usual capitalist traits we all know and love. But Alan, he's something else. Something worse. That's what I think, at least. Do with it what you will."

  She nodded. "Thanks."

  "Sure."

  "Oh, one more thing," she said. "The Gauntlet is the real thing. Don't let the others get hurt. I have high hopes for them, even if they leave with you."

  "I'll do my best."

  Having said goodbye to Viola, he approached the guards and tried looking past, through the window in the closed door. "I'm here to see Dot."

  "Ms. Marlene is busy," the one on the left said. She was a woman with short, almost buzzed, blond hair, a small nose that she tilted up enough that it felt like she was talking down to him despite her being much shorter.

  "I'm a friend."

  The one on the right, another woman, this one tall and muscular, stepped up in front of him, too close for comfort. "We told you, she's busy."

  "Luke?" The door opened, and a disheveled, tired-looking Dot peeked out. When she saw him, a pleased smile that stoked warmth in his chest spread across her face. "Come in!"

  An older woman, who he assumed was a patient, left the room, giving her gratitude, and Dot then gestured for him to enter. Straightening, he walked past the guards, not even looking their way. Teasing them would be childish, of course. Still, he couldn't help but snicker, low enough only for the two of them to hear.

  Dot was already at the other end of the room, pouring herself a glass of water. The room drew the mind more to someone's living room than to a hospital room. She was wearing her regular clothes too, a light red version of the dress she'd worn when they first met, the one with the little white flowers on it, and had her hair up in a loose bun, a bunch of strands having escaped.

  Luke closed the door behind him. "How are they treating you?"

  She slumped into a chair and tilted her head up, groaning, "Not much rest in this place."

  "Listen," he said, nodding. "There's something I have to talk with you about."